Diseases and vaccines

Rotavirus disease and vaccine overview

Rotavirus disease

Key facts about rotavirus disease and vaccines (2006)
PATH
Basic, essential information about rotavirus disease and vaccines against rotavirus.

PATH/UNICEF Enhanced Diarrheal Disease Control Resource Center
This website provides comprehensive resources on diarrheal disease treatment interventions, including low-osmolarity oral rehydration solution, zinc treatment, and rotavirus vaccines. Traditional interventions such as improved sanitation and breastfeeding practices are also addressed.

Proceedings of the Seventh International Rotavirus Symposium (2006)
The Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Institute
An overview of the symposium’s sessions, presentations, and discussions.

Proceedings of the Sixth International Rotavirus Symposium (2005)
The Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Institute
An overview of the symposium’s sessions, presentations, and discussions.

Rotavirus fact sheet (2005)
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
General information about rotavirus disease.

Rotavirus overview
World Health Organization (WHO) Department of Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologicals
Information on rotavirus disease burden and WHO recommendations related to rotavirus disease and vaccines.

Rotavirus: Questions and answers (2006)
PATH
Expanded information on rotavirus incidence and interventions, including vaccines.

Rotavirus fast facts
National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition
Rotavirus facts and resources for parents, presented in English and Spanish.

Viral gastroenteritis fact sheet (2005)
CDC
General information about viral gastroenteritis.

Rotavirus vaccine

Anticipating new vaccines in the Americas (2004)
Andrus, et al. Pan American Journal of Public Health. 16(6):369-370.
This editorial supports accelerated vaccine introduction and provides information on health inequities, program sustainability, and vaccine affordability.

Introduction of rotavirus vaccine with support from the GAVI Alliance: Information to assist the national decision-making and application process (2008)
PATH and the GAVI Alliance
As a supplement to GAVI’s detailed guidelines, the document aims to support decision-making by GAVI-eligible countries in the WHO European region and provides information on the burden of rotavirus disease; efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of available rotavirus vaccines; eligibility criteria; application procedures; co-financing requirements; and health system considerations.

New hope for defeating rotavirus (2006)
Glass R. Scientific American. April: 47-55.
This informative article by Dr. Roger Glass, a leading expert on rotavirus, outlines the landscape of new vaccines and their potential impact.

New rotavirus vaccines on the horizon (2005)
Jaffe S. The Scientist. 19(3):37-39.
This article discusses the development of Rotarix® and RotaTeq®, in addition to other rotavirus vaccines under development in India.

Position paper on rotavirus vaccines (2007)
WHO
This article in the Weekly Epidemiological Record summarizes WHO recommendations on rotavirus vaccines and related activities, including vaccine introduction, surveillance of rotavirus disease, and studies to evaluate vaccine safety and efficacy.

Prevention of rotavirus gastroenteritis among infants and children: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (2006)
CDC. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 55(RR-12).
This report provides background on the development of RotaTeq®, Merck's vaccine against rotavirus, and recommendations for its use in the prevention of rotavirus through immunization.

The promise of new rotavirus vaccines
Glass R, Parashar U. New England Journal of Medicine. 354(1): 75-77.
This editorial summarizes findings from successful safety and efficacy studies of Rotarix® and RotaTeq® vaccines, while also emphasizing the need for clinical trials to evaluate the vaccines' performance in developing-country settings.

Rotavirus Vaccine Information Statement (2006)
CDC
Basic information on rotavirus vaccines and their addition to the US routine immunization schedule.

Rotavirus vaccine overview
WHO
Information on the development of rotavirus vaccines and related activities of WHO and its partners.

Rotavirus Vaccine Program (RVP)
RVP is a collaboration between the CDC, WHO, and PATH. The program supports global rotavirus disease surveillance and clinical trials on the safety, efficacy, accessibility, and affordability of rotavirus vaccines, in order to develop an evidence base for informed decision-making on rotavirus vaccine introduction in developing countries.

Rotavirus vaccines: Recent developments and future considerations (2007)
Angel J, Franco M, Greenberg H. Nature Reviews - Microbiology. 5(7):529-539.
This article outlines new advances in understanding rotavirus infection, prevention through vaccination, and what we can learn from existing vaccines in order to inform the development of future vaccines.

Rotavirus vaccines: The wheel has turned (2006)
Kamal-Uddin S, Croft N. Gastroenterology. 131(4):1352-1354.
This commentary provides a summary of rotavirus vaccine development, including studies on the safety and efficacy of new rotavirus vaccines currently in use. The authors also emphasize the need for evaluation of rotavirus vaccines in developing country settings.

State of the art of new vaccines: Research and development (2006)
WHO
This document analyzes current research and development activities for vaccines against infectious diseases of public health importance. Disease groups covered include diarrheal disease, STDs, resporiatory infections, bacterial infections, and parasitic diseases.